We are pleased to announce that the 13th Danube Participation Day will take place in Sofia,Bulgaria, on 2 November 2026.
As an official side event of the 15th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, this year’s Danube Participation Day will explore the theme:
"Inclusive Participation for Greater Impact: Strengthening the Partnership Principle in the Danube Region"
The conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to explore how the Partnership Principle can drive stronger collaboration and meaningful civil society engagement in the Danube Region. With an eye on the future EU funding period, the event will focus on unlocking the full potential of cooperation to strengthen democratic participation, share best practices and prepare for the next programming period.
Join stakeholders from across the Danube Region for a day of exchange, participation, and inspiration including:
Engaging Panel Discussions
Interactive Group Discussions
Networking Opportunities
Further practical details will be available soon on our website.
Please save the date, REGISTER BELOW and join us in Sofia!
draft AGENDA
09:30 – Registration
10:00 – Opening Session: Welcome Addresses & Interactive Exchange with the Audience
Vyara Mincheva, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region
Stefan August Lütgenau, Danube Civil Society Forum/Foster Europe
Claudia Singer-Smith, EU Strategy for the Danube Region – Priority Area 10 “Institutional Capacity & Cooperation”/City of Vienna
Moderation: Leta Panayotova
Interactive Exchange with the Audience
Moderation: Andreea Prasacu
10:45 – Panel Discussion | Talk, Trust, Transform: The Partnership Principle in Practice
Durmish Guri, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
Johan Magnusson, European Commission/DG REGIO
Desislava Tencheva, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works Bulgaria
Miroslav Tsekov, Citizen Participation Forum
Moderation: Leta Panayotova
11:45 – Danube Participation Agora: Introduction of initiatives
12:15 – Networking Lunch & Agora*
*An open forum and marketplace where pre-registered participants can showcase their work, projects and initiatives and connect with partner organisations.
13:30 – Introduction to the Danube Participation Day Working Sessions
13:45 – Danube Participation Day Working Sessions
1. Working Session on Participation - Building inclusive participation: who is involved and why it counts?
Explore the current status quo, share good practices and identifying needs for better participation processes
Questions for reflection:
What factors contribute to inclusive and representative participation?
What measures can be taken to strengthen participation and ensure genuine engagement?
Moderation: Iva Taralezhkova
2. Working Session on Consultation - Meaningful consultations for better outcomes
Explore the current status quo, share good practices and identifying aspects for fruitful consultations
Questions for reflection:
How can efficient consultations be ensured beyond a box-ticking exercise?
What would strengthen the trust and accountability in consultation processes?
Moderation: Desislava Tencheva
3. Working Session on Capacity Building: Strengthening partners, strengthening results
Explore the current status quo, share good practices and identifying needs and/or gaps in stakeholders capacities
Questions for reflection:
What capacity gaps currently limit stakeholders to participate effectively?
What types of support are most critical to increase stakeholders capacities?
Moderation: Cristina Cuc
15:00 – Prioritisation of Recommendations & Networking Coffee
Moderation: Leta Panayotova
15:45 – Closing Session: Passing the Bell
Stefan August Lütgenau, Danube Civil Society Forum/Foster Europe
Claudia Singer-Smith, EU Danube Strategy – Priority Area 10 “Institutional Capacity & Cooperation”/City of Vienna
N.N, Representative of Croatian CSO
Moderation: Leta Panayotova
REGISTRATION:
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The Partnership Principle (PP) is a key element of EU Cohesion Policy and a key mechanism for ensuring participatory and multi-level governance in EU funding, ensuring that national, regional and local authorities, civil society, economic and social partners, and other relevant stakeholders are involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of EU-funded programmes.
Read more about the PP and the background of the 13th DPD here »
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The Danube Participation Day is an annual event that gathers representatives from civil society organisations, local, regional and national public authorities, university and research, and businesses from the 14 EUSDR partner countries, representatives from the EUSDR governance as well as from European and international organisations. The aim is to foster cooperation and participation for better development in the Danube Region. Thus, the Danube Participation Days serves as a platform for exchanging views and perspectives to build trust and strengthen mutual learning. The Danube Participation Day is a forum to share good-practices of participatory governance and projects as well as for getting involved with decision-makers and experts.
The Danube Participation Day is organised by Priority Area 10 “Institutional Capacity and Cooperation” and the Danube Civil Society Forum together with local partners as well as with support from and in close cooperation with the EUSDR Presidency.
More information:
https://danubestrategy.eu/about-the-participation-days
https://capacitycooperation.danube-region.eu/danube-participation-day
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The Agora is an open forum and marketplace where participants, particularly NGOs, local stakeholders and project teams, can showcase their work, projects and initiatives and connect with partner organisations. The Agora will not only take place in Sofia but will also feature an online component, enabling all participants to connect with interested stakeholders either before the Danube Participation Day or after the event.
If you are interested in being part of the Danube Participation Day Agora and have questions, please contact